Stephen Bali: We’re on a mission to build a university in the heart of Blacktown
We’re in the process of transforming Blacktown to for the future. We want our amenities to reflect the needs of the community, and that includes a university, writes Mayor Stephen Bali.
NSW
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“That’s surprising. I didn’t think the good residents of Blacktown were capable of getting into university at all. Carjacking, break-ins, drugs and teenage pregnancy are hardly prerequisites for tertiary education.”
Those are some of the reactions to Blacktown City Council’s announcement that it plans to attract a university to set up shop in Blacktown City over the coming years.
During my tenure as mayor, we’ve weathered ignorant rantings such as this.
Rantings that appear to have no bearing in reality, especially if, like me, you meet and interact with the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in Blacktown every day. We live in a great city.
But I believe that we deserve and can achieve more.
That’s why the council has embarked on a mission to build an internationally regarded educational institution in the heart of Blacktown.
There is significant demand for another university in Western Sydney. Currently, the majority of university places are clustered around the Sydney CBD, with most Blacktown residents travelling more than 45 minutes to access higher education.
Eighteen thousand ambitious university students live in Blacktown and this student population is forecast to grow to 29,000 in the next 30 years. In 2036, Blacktown City will have 500,000 citizens; we’re at a huge 360,000 people as it is now.
We need to be able to service the new generations of Blacktown students who want to study, work and live in Blacktown.
Rather than have our young people leave Blacktown to work and study, we want them to stay and use their talent right here. Not only will we be able to keep talent here, but we will also attract bright minds to our doorstep. Thirty-two per cent of Sydney students live within 45 minutes of Blacktown.
We are a well-connected city, by rail and road — a true 30-minute city.
As an easily accessible destination with amenity, affordable housing, and work opportunities, we can attract the best and brightest from Australia and abroad.
Many local businesses, including Arnott’s and Lindt & Sprungli, have expressed the desire to partner with a local university to provide opportunities, including work placements, research opportunities, and jobs.
These businesses are telling us they require more qualified workers for roles and research across logistics, manufacturing, engineering and IT.
We’re in the process of transforming Blacktown to accommodate the future. With a growing population, we want our amenities to reflect the needs of the community.
A university, a rejuvenated city centre, a state-of-the-art health precinct and a world-class sporting facility are just some of the projects we’re undertaking to revitalise our area.
Blacktown is home to entrepreneurs, industriousness and examples of human ingenuity.
We value work ethic, diversity and inclusiveness.
Our workforce is made up of immigrants, seventh generation Australians and First Australians; parents who have worked hard to give their children a future.
At the council we want to facilitate that future, so that any misled perceptions of Blacktown, such as those at the start of this piece, are relegated to history.
Stephen Bali is mayor of Blacktown.
Blacktown City Council will release Expression of Interest documents and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with business on 4 September.
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Originally published as Stephen Bali: We’re on a mission to build a university in the heart of Blacktown
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